Why Rules on In-Flight Electronics Are Still Complicated
Photo Credit: A woman using an in-flight wireless connection from Honeywell. Honeywell
Skift Take
Whatever the rules actually are, the experience using PEDs changes so much from plane to plane that passengers are best served by keeping expectations low.
While passengers celebrate fewer restrictions on the use of Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) onboard, some factors delay this policy becoming universal.
At a special working group on the topic, held at IATA's Cabin Operations Safety Conference in Madrid, airlines discussed issues which explain why some still don’t allow the use of PEDs on all flights.
Policies introduced by regulators put the responsibility of clearing PEDs on the airlines. They must prove to the regulators that these devices do not interfere with the flight systems of each aircraft they operate.
While some airlines have confirmation from the aircraft manufacturer that their flight systems are impervious to PED low-frequency transmissions, not all aircraft have such certificates.
Airlines which operate many different types of equipment may face a situation where they can permit the
